What is the Warm Home Discount scheme?
The Warm Home Discount is a one-off discount of £150 applied directly to the energy bills of those who qualify. It’s designed to help people who are vulnerable or may need help covering their energy bills during the winter months, when energy bills tend to be the most expensive.
The latest Warm Home Discount scheme news is that, after a government consultation earlier this year, it is likely that an additional 2.7 million or so families will qualify to receive the discount this coming winter, should the government act on its proposal to scrap the ‘high energy costs’ requirement.
The scheme for the winter of 2025-2026 will open in October 2025 and the discount should be applied to your electricity bill by 31 March 2026. If you have a dual-fuel tariff, you can ask your supplier to apply the discount to your gas bill instead.
You can also get the Warm Home Discount if you're on a prepayment or pay as you go meter. Your supplier will decide how the discount is applied, but it's often in the form of a voucher you can use to top up your meter.
Core Group 1 and Core Group 2 – what's the difference?
Core Group 1
If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit on the qualifying date, which is likely to be some time in August 2025, then you will be automatically eligible for the Warm Home Discount, even if you get Savings Credit as well. This applies to all qualifying people in England, Wales and Scotland.
Aside from being eligible, you should also check that your supplier participates in the scheme (small suppliers may not offer it) - we've listed all participating suppliers in the 2024-25 scheme below. You must also check that you or your partner’s name appears on the electricity bill.
Core Group 2 (also known as the Broader group)
This group is comprised of those who don’t fall into Core Group 1 but may still be able to get the Warm Home Discount. This is because some suppliers also offer the discount to a ‘broader group’ of customers, such as low-income households, especially those with young children.
Those who qualified in August 2024 had to meet the following criteria:
● You received one or more of the following benefits: Housing Benefit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support, the ‘Savings Credit’ part of Pension Credit or Universal Credit
● Alternatively, you could also qualify if your household income fell below a certain threshold and you received either Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit
● Your energy supplier was part of the scheme (see below)
● You or your partner’s name was on the electricity bill
● Your property had a ‘high energy cost’ score based on its characteristics.
The high energy cost score used data around floor area, property age and property type to identify households that were likely to have high energy costs. It looks likely that this ‘high energy cost’ qualification will be removed from criteria list for 2025-2026. If this happens, a further 2.7 million families will become eligible for the payment.
In Scotland, where the term for Core Group 2 is ‘Broader group’, you may also need to meet other eligibility criteria, detailed in the table below.
Qualifying benefits and criteria
| Criteria | Core Group 1 | Core Group 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying benefits | Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit | One or more of the following means-tested benefits: Housing Benefit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support, the ‘Savings Credit’ part of Pension Credit or Universal Credit |
| Qualifying tax credits | None | Child Tax or Working Tax Credit, subject to household income falling below a certain threshold. |
| Usage requirements | None | Home must meet a “high energy cost” score |
| Other eligibility criteria | None | Those who live in Scotland must meet additional criteria, such as having parental responsibility for a child, receiving a disability benefit or being of pensionable age |
| Supplier requirements | Supplier must be part of the Warm Home Discount scheme. | Supplier must be part of the Warm Home Discount scheme. |
| Bill requirements | You or your partner’s name must be on the electricity bill | You or your partner’s name must be on the electricity bill |
Requirements based on 2024-2025 scheme (now closed).
How to apply for the Warm Home Discount
There is no need to apply for the Warm Home Discount if you live in England or Wales – your supplier will automatically apply the discount to your bill if you are eligible.
What you need to apply
Core Group 1
Those who qualify for the Warm Home Discount as part of Core Group 1 don’t need to do anything. Your discount should be applied automatically.
Core Group 2
Those living in England or Wales shouldn’t need anything to apply for the Warm Home Discount. The process is automatic, based on the criteria above.
If you live in Scotland, are on a low income and believe you fall into the Broader (Core 2) group, then you will need to contact your electricity supplier directly to apply when the 2025-2026 Warm Home Discount scheme opens in August 2025. This is usually done through submitting a form on your supplier’s website.
How to check if you’re eligible for the Warm Home Discount
Based on last year’s process (2024-2025), you should receive a letter between October 2025 and January 2026 to tell you if you’re eligible or need to provide more information. If you qualify, you don't need to do anything, but if you’re asked to provide more information, follow the instructions in the letter.
If you want to find out whether you qualify, call the government Warm Home Discount phone line on 0800 030 9322, or visit the online hub at GOV.UK from October 2025.
If you don't get the letter by January 2026 but you think you're eligible, call the number above to check. You must do so by 28 February 2026.
You can also write to:
Warm Home Discount Scheme, PO Box 14127, Selkirk, TD7 9AH
Which energy suppliers offer the Warm Home Discount?
Any energy supplier with more than 150,000 customers is obliged to offer the Warm Home Discount scheme to eligible groups – this includes all big six energy providers. In addition, some smaller suppliers offer the Warm Home Discount to their customers voluntarily.
Find out more about the big six’s details here:
British Gas Warm Home Discount
Find out details of the British Gas (including Scottish Gas) Warm Home Discount scheme at its dedicated online portal.
EDF Energy Warm Home Discount
The EDF Energy Warm Home Discount scheme is detailed on the supplier’s own website.
E.ON Next Warm Home Discount
Visit E.ON Next’s dedicated portal for details of how it administers the Warm Home Discount scheme for its customers.
Octopus Energy Warm Home Discount
Octopus’s Warm Home Discount scheme is detailed on its website here. Customers of companies now administered by Octopus Energy, including Affect Energy, Bulb Energy, Shell Energy and Co-op Energy, should check the Octopus site for details.
OVO Energy Warm Home Discount
OVO Energy customers, including customers formerly with Boost Energy, can find out how it administers the OVO Energy Warm Home Discount scheme here.
ScottishPower Warm Home Discount
Visit the supplier’s website for details of the ScottishPower Warm Home Discount scheme.
Other electricity suppliers
Many other energy suppliers also support the Warm Home Discount scheme. You’ll find links to these suppliers below, including access to application forms for Scottish customers who think they may qualify for support through the Broader group:
* Look under FAQs for ‘Warm home discount scheme
Please note that some providers require you to reapply for the Warm Home Discount if you switch energy supplier.
If your energy supplier is not listed above but you’re in an eligible group, you can get the discount by switching to a supplier that offers the Warm Home Discount. If you don’t want to switch, ask your supplier whether they offer extra support through Industry Initiatives instead.
How much is the Warm Home Discount and when is it paid?
The Warm Home Discount is worth £150, and is paid automatically through your electricity supplier, either by adding a credit to your account or as a voucher to top up your prepayment meter.
The payment for the 2025-2026 scheme will be made at any time from October 2025 to the end of March 2026.
If you receive confirmation that you’re eligible, but don’t receive the credit by 31 March 2026, contact your electricity supplier. If they’re unable to help, write to the following address:
Warm Home Discount Scheme, PO Box 14127, Selkirk, TD7 9AH
Include your name, address and date of birth, the reference number (if there is one) from your confirmation letter, the name of your electricity supplier and your account number, and the name of the person on the electricity bill on the qualifying date in August 2025 if it isn’t you.
What happens to my Warm Home Discount if I switch suppliers?
Although switching your energy supplier is usually a simple and effective way of reducing your bills, you should check your supplier's rules regarding the Warm Home Discount and switching.
If you have already received the discount, then you should be fine to switch suppliers. If you’ve not yet received it, then the rules depend on which group you’re in:
Core Group 1: The company that supplied your electricity on the qualifying date (some time in August 2025) is responsible for the payment, regardless of whether you switch afterwards. This may be used to pay off any remaining balance you owe that supplier, or you may receive it in the form of a voucher
Core Group 2 (England and Wales): The same rules apply for Core Group 2 customers as they do for Core Group 1
Broader group (Scotland): You’ll need to contact your new supplier and reapply through their scheme, which may have different criteria, so speak to them first.
If your supplier stops trading, Ofgem will put you on to a new supplier – you’ll need to check with them if you’re eligible for the Warm Home Discount.
If you think you might not be eligible for the Warm Home Discount but you need to cut your bills, do a quick energy comparison online to see how much you could save on your energy supply.
Energy industry initiatives
As well as the direct Warm Home Discount of £150, some suppliers offer a type of indirect Warm Home Discount scheme known as Industry Initiatives.
These initiatives provide customers with the services of a third party to help reduce the cost of your energy. This can include advice about energy saving and help with reducing energy debts. Industry Initiatives can be taken up even if your energy supplier does not offer the Warm Home Discount scheme.
As well as the Warm Home Discount, there are other financial assistance programmes available for energy customers - use our interactive tool above to check your eligibility these schemes. Claiming the Warm Home Discount doesn't affect your eligibility for any other discounts or payments.
- The Cold Weather Payment is a government payment when temperatures drop below zero for a sustained amount of time. Although it isn't paid out very often, it is worth keeping a note of. Learn more about the Cold Weather Payment on our dedicated guide page.
- If you were born on or before 25 September 1957, you may also be entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment or winter fuel allowance. The winter fuel payment is a tax-free payment of between £100 and £300 to help certain groups of people pay for their heating over winter. Whether you qualify or not depends on your circumstances, which in turn will determine how much you are entitled to.
- There may also be energy efficiency grants available to you. Qualifying for these grants means you can get your home insulated for free. Home insulation is a great way to both cut your energy bills as well as waste less gas and electricity.
- You can also make small changes around the home and adjust your energy behaviour to see savings on your bills. Get free energy-saving tips now.
FAQs
How do I know if I've received the Warm Home Discount?
You can find out if you've received the Warm Home Discount by checking your energy bills - it should be automatically applied as a £150 deduction to your electricity bill.
